Operating mechanism



Feb. 3, 1948. E. wlLLxAMs y OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 7, 1946 All/Iventor:

lniams,

Ernes't Wi I Patented F eb. 3, 1948 2,435,486 OPERATING MECHANISM ErnestWilliams, Pittsfield, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application August 7, 1946, Serial No. 688,884

My invention relates to improvements in operating mechanisms andespecially operating mechanisms for electric switches and the like andparticularly for electric switches used in connecting transformers andthe like to a source of alternating electromotive force.

When a transformer winding is connected to an energizing source ofalternating electromotive force, there is a sudden or transient inrushof magnetizing or exciting current. For a few cycles, this current maybe greater than the usual load current. For economy in switching costs,manually operated switches are often provided with only sufficientinterrupting capacity to take care of the normal or static magnetizingcurrent. In such cases, if an operator were to close the switch on a,transformer and then suddenly open the switch before the subsidence ofthe transient inrush current, the switch would in all probability beseriously damaged, if not destroyed, and even the operator might sufferpersonal injury.

An object of my invention is to provide for electric switches and thelike an improved operating mechanism such that when a switch is operatedto the closed circuit position it cannot be opened until a desired timeinterval after the closing. Another object of my invention is to provideoperating mechanism which can readily be mounted in convenient locationson transformer tanks, radiators and the like. A further object of myinvention is to provide an operating mechanism which is economical andsimple in both construction 4and operation and which requires minimummaintenance. These and other objects of my invention will appear in moredetail hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, I provide especially for electricswitches and the like an operating mechanism comprising amovablymountedmember and means adapted to be operated to move the member in onedirection and then to move the member in therreverse direction but onlyafter a desired time interval. Also in accordance with my invention,this means comprises an element secured to the member for movementtherewith and an operating lever mounted on the member for movementrelatively thereto. Further, I provide means supported on the lever formovement Ainto and out of engagement with one side or the other of `aportion of the element and adapted to be moved relatively to the elementand the lever to permit movement of the lever independently of theelement and then to be moved in the opposite direction tov engage theelement upon reversal of movement of the lever.

5 Claims. (Cl. 'Z4-504) My invention will be better understood from thefollowing description when considered in connection with theaccompanying sheet of drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical elevationalview of an operating mechanism embodying my invention with the operatinglever shown in one position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing theoperating leverin a different position; and Fig. 4 is a part sectionalview to a larger scale on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I have shown an operatingmechanism comprising a movably mounted member such as a shaft l whichmay be arranged to operate a circuit controlling member directly orthrough suitable driving mechanism. The shaft I is suitably journaled ina supporting structure 2 which can readily be attached to the pipes of atransformer radiator, for example, by bolts and a backing plate, notshown, or otherwise as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means adapted to be operatedto move the shaft l in lone direction and then Vto move the shaft in thereverse direction but only after a desired time interval. As shown, thismeans comprises an'element such as a crank arm 3 which is secured to theshaft I for rotation therewith as by means of a pin 4, for example. Foractuating the shaft I, I provide an operating lever 5 which is mountedon the shaft for movement relativei. ly thereto so as'to turn about thesame axis as the shaft and the arm3. In the illustrated arrangement, theoperating lever 5 is secured to the shaft l against longitudinalmovement by suitable means such as a retaining washer 6 and a stud 1.The operating lever 5 includes a handle portion 8 which, Ias shown, issuitably curved for gripping and also offset to provide clearancebetween the support 2 and the operators hand.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated, it is assumedthat the mechanism may be operated to actuate a switch for connecting Ia transformer, for example, to either of two sources of alternatingelectromotive force indicate'd as Line No. 1 and Line No. 2 andintermediate these positions is a switch open position indicated byOpenf Since it is frequently desired for safety purposes to preventloperation of adswitch from a predetermined position, the arm 3 may beprovided with a notched segmental upon reversal of movement oftthelever,As shown, this means comprises a pin I4. in threadediengage.- ment withthe lever as by a screw I5. The pin I4 is slidably mounted in theelement 3. Thus, by the screw I5 associated with the lever 5 and the pinI4, the pin can be moved out ofthe., opening I 6 sufficiently to abut.oneV edge. '.or.,` thl'otflier 4of the arm 3 so that moveme t fthe,operatinglever 5 in one direction `veffects"moi/ernent. of! the arm inthe same direction, but movement ofthe oper: ating lever inthe reverse,direction will `not cause movement of the arm,` Thusgbefore... al.reverse movement oifthearm 3 can Abe` e,if ected thepin I4. must beretracted into ythe openinglthe oper. ating' lever 5 moved past' thea'rm .Bin the.r direction the arm was last moved, and .then thepin.` Mmust of" engagement with, portionofthe element .3

element and then tobemoveg. in the opposite direction to engage theelement screw I5 must be turned in a direction to retract the pin I4 topermit further clockwise movement of the operating lever past the crankarm 3 to the broken line position indicated in Fig. 3. After this hasbeen done, the screw l5 can be turned in the opposite direction toproject the pin M sufficiently to abut the crank arm 3 on the far edge,whereuponpthecijank arm can be moved counterclockwise from thepositionshown in Fig. .3. Operation from the Line No. 2 position is accomplishedin asimlar manner.

an opening I6 ,in the.. lever 5 ydirected toward the plane 'of rotationofV turning the headg'liflwof;

therewith, an operating leven; mounted on 1 said.:

be suiliciently. projected from the 'openingf I 6.

rmly to engage the arm 3 when'. the. movement of the cpereting iever isreversed; The time required i to perform this in andV.out,"ir'ik)vement.orthepin I 4 is suiicie'nt forfthe decay of a,transient -inrush operator after closing'ftheI switcl to energize thetransformer cannotv immediately thereafter .open

the switch :on awcurrent"abve,'.its interrupting capacitylasV in caserush current..

In some cases, it is desirabletodelaythe moi/ef.A

eopenif pc.l

ment of .the crank 'arm i3 ,threjignth sition. In such cases', the mechvided with an intermediate st p.

marbeprof devicewhich, as shown, comprises anotchedlever i ported onvthe lower'extensicinl 9' of as s howninore crank arm `3 is providedw`itli' .aprojection.suchy as,

cleailyin. Fig'Q., In this case, Qthe Y a pin 20 which engages therictcnl onfthe1ever, V I8 thereby preventing niovement'of. the arm and'the lever in one direction; clockwise as shown in,..

Fig. 1. Before furtherclockwise movement'can be...

effected from. the .Open"po sitin,to the Line No. l position, the leverclockwise I 8', be .turned counter- 'aroundit's pivtalfaxis whichis inin" eensiderebie detail, I de totheexact. arrangements shown, but seekto :cover-'iin 'the'. appended claims all those modificadescribed myinvention .VihilelL have shown and not desire to be limited tionsthat-falliwit-hinl the true spirit and scope of mieirivelatimi.Y

i hat' I claim asinew and desire to secure by `.Lettersatent of theUnited States is:

1. An operating mechanism for actuating a movably mounted member of anAelectricswitch andthe .likeineone ectionandthen actuating-fV the member.inthe.. averse; direction but only: after aide.. redf time intervalcomprising adele-..1 ment. Secured; te Seid .member for movement@member. fOr; movement. .relatively vthereto.-Y engagingmeanssupported on saidleverformoveel mentinto and out of engagement .with oneside.. crtl' i e other of -fa,porti on.,of said element andi.Y adapted to .bemovedg relatively. to the element and the ,lei/er, togpermitmovement of.the lever f independently .of .the element and then1 to be a. moved in.the ...opposite direction to engage-'the elementupon-reversal,of-movement of thelever,...

and .means Vfonretarding `the .movement oi-said engagingsmeansrelatively to said .lever whereby# t0 permitethereversemovement oi-:themember.: onlyafter. a desired. time interval..

rotatably .mounted member of an.-.electric switchiandthelike inonedirectionandthen actuating the memberin the. reverse direction butonly`` after, a desired timeinterval comprising acrank.

5 elementrigidly e secured to the member, an. opere atingvlevensupported .on-said memberfor rota-w.

tion relatively thereto, means .comprising a prof jection. supportedOnsaid. lever ior4 movement into and out of. abutting vengagementwithonev` S#edge .onthe other of..I said element and-aclapted-A tobemovedrelatively tothe leverto clear said element .wherebygto permitrotation. of the -lever past` the elementandthentobe movedvinr thereverse direction .toerigage the elementupon re-f .',versal Vof rotationJofthe leverwherebyfto move- Y the member in thel reversedirectionrandcooperv line'withthepin 20A whereupo r1 ltle pin 20`is freeN' iormovement in l crankarm. For holdingQtheblocking `lever I8 'theclockwise.'v direction .of`the'..

in either one of its blocking positions, theextene sion I5 is providedwith;stop pins 22 which are arranged to seat ina i(lepresesion,2544.thelilriclririg'l u lever.

Assuming that theoperating lever-5 has been moved clockwise Vfrom'the"""Line'- No. 2". positionv to the .Ope`n positionshownligl andthenthat the locking lever vI clockwise from the position" sliwn-in'Fig. '1'tothe..

position shown vin lig."3ftlienlfthev crank arm y 3 in Fig. 3 byfurther" clockwise. movement bf the,

operating lever 5.'.v Howevendf ...it is. desired to,

position or to tnefti-neno.,215.posities..een.the.l

ating-means onsaid--lever and said projection or -retardingthe-movementlVorthe projection"-VL IVV relativelyv to vthe leverewherebyto permitthe-re'v verse .movement of. thememberonly aft-r ade sired time interval.-f y Y Y f 3. An'operating .mechanismior-turning a s hafte'f in `onedirection-andthen-turning the shaft i'njthreaded means .associated withvsaid pin andsaid.,. lever andy adaptedtqbe,operatedto move s aid pi outofrf Sa'd. ppenirie. .for .engagement with...1one

2; An oper-ating mechanism for actuating 1 ai..

the reverse" direct-ionbutl only-aiter a desired* 'time intervalcomprisinga crank `arm rigidly se cured/(to V the shaft a handle leverrotatablydr mounted. Oil .thehait .and .provided .withyan .f opening.toward .the plane of .rotation of'said arm,.... a pin slidably .ymountedin. said opening.. ancl ing to clear the arm whereby to permitrotation of the lever independently of the arm.

4. An operating mechanism for turning a shaft in one direction through apredetermined angular range from one position to another position andthen turning the shaft in the reverse direction to said one position butonly after a desired time interval comprising a. crank arm rigidlyseeured to the shaft, a handle lever rotatably mounted on the shaft andprovided with an opening toward the plane of rotation of said arm, a pinslidably positioned in said opening, means adapted to be operated toproject said pin from said opening for abutting engagement with one edgeor the other of said arm upon rotation of said lever and to retract saidpin into said 'opening to clear the arm whereby to permit rotation ofthe lever independently of the arm, and cooperating means on said pinand said lever for retarding said projecting and retracting movements ofthe pin whereby to permit a change in direction of the movement of saidmember only after a desired time interval.

5. An operating mechanism for turning a shaft in one direction and thenturning the shaft in the reverse direction but only after a desired timeinterval comprising a crank arm rigidly secured to the shaft, a handlelever supported onY REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '772,067 Sundh Oct. 11, 19041,312,410 Miller et al Aug. 5, 1919 1,718,513 Wyman June 25, 1929

